Blogs from Quito, North, Ecuador, South America - page 9

Geo: -0.223151, -78.5127A blissful, long lie-in awaited us this morning, having agreed to meet our friends at the presidential palace at eleven o clock for one final day exploring the city for them. Tickets for tours of the palace are free and tourists merely have to show their passports to gain admission to the complex. We settled on an entry time and decided to head along to La Ronda, one of the most famous streets in Quito. We wandered through the bustling streets towards the pretty avenue, where artisans plied their trade and ornate wrought balconies hung over the cobbled street. Flowers graced the terraces while couples strolled along its shaded floor. After stopping at a chocolatier, where the more adventurous among us sampled some interesting blends of chocolate and chamomile, while the savvy stuck with ... read more

Geo: -0.223151, -78.5127After what turned out to be a long, lazy lie-in and a delicious breakfast in the opulent dining room of the hotel, complete with chirping birds in various cages, we joined our new travelling companions at their even more impressive hotel on the main square of the city - the Hotel Plaza Grande, the first luxury hotel built in Quito. We found ourselves a taxi and driver and began our journey out of the city to Papallacta Hot Springs complex in the mountainous region about an hour and half away.We drove out of the city, the narrow streets giving way to winding roads that looped and curled around the hilly terrain. Candy coloured houses were stepped into the hills, sugar-coated terraces providing a beautiful frame to the city below. As we left the city ... read more

Geo: -0.223151, -78.5127Today was mostly a very long travel day with an early start to the airport, where we were faced with a delay, meaning we arrived into Quito later than we had planned. On arrival, the immigration process was quite long-winded, joining three different queues to check passports, collect baggage and finally scan our bags and clear customs, so when we finally arrived at our hotel, we were weary and ready for some chilled out time.Our journey from the airport had taken us past some lovely scenery and into the clean capital city. Ecuador already feels like a more affluent country - the airport facilities being more sanitary and organised than the neighbouring capital of Lima, and from what we have heard speaking to other travellers, we will find the same in the city itself.When ... read more

Mitad del Mundo, the Middle of the World The Top of the World highway, in the Yukon, is an alternative route connecting Dawson City to Tok, Alaska. When I saw “The Top of the World” on our map, it drew me like the Pied Piper’s flute drew the children through the streets of Hamlin. In Hammerfest, Norway I had my photo taken standing next to the Struve Meridian marker that commemorates the first accurate measurement of a meridian. So, too, I felt compelled to get a photo of the monument at Mitad del Mundo, the Middle of the World in Quito, Ecuador. I packed a snack, some water, and my Kindle so I could read during the hour and a half bus ride to Mitad del Mundo. I bought a ticket at the bus station I ... read more

Before we went on our trip we were warned by others who have travel experience that the transition back to work is tough. When they heard we are landing in Zurich on Sunday and start work on Monday they especially thought we were crazy. So, following their advice we decided to make the last two weeks of our travels a vacation. Traveling is loads of fun but can also be tiring: lots of new impressions different people, different places. Hiking, heavy backpacks, long bus rides with short nights. In these last weeks we decided to go for sun, beach and relaxation. After some deliberation we picked the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico: the weather is good this time of the year, great food and enough things to do. The first contrast that we noticed is the amount ... read more